Headlines (Campus Updates)

Laurier gears up for second-annual Three-Minute Thesis competition

Communications, Public Affairs & Marketing

Jan 9/14

Writing a thesis or major research paper is difficult enough. Effectively explaining it in less than three minutes? Sounds impossible.

But on March 4, Laurier’s second-annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition will challenge masters and PhD students to do just that: condense months, or even years, of research into a three-minute presentation, using only one slide.

Aimed at improving research communication skills, the 3MT® competition gives graduate students just three minutes to present their thesis, dissertation or major research paper to a panel of non-experts. The panel picks a winner based on set criteria including communication style, engagement with the audience and audience comprehension of the research.

The winner will receive a cash prize and act as Laurier’s representative at the Ontario 3MT® Competition hosted by McMaster University on April 24.

"The 3MT® helps graduate students develop the capacity to explain their research effectively and succinctly to a general audience," said Joan Norris, dean: Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. “Last year’s participants inspired us with the scope of their scholarship and their ability to communicate complex ideas simply and meaningfully.”

Master of Education student Tracy Bachellier won Laurier’s first 3MT® competition last March with her presentation entitled “Parent and Family Engagement: Practice in Pedagogy.”

“Without a doubt, the 3MT® competition was a challenging experience,” said Bachellier. “It forced me to focus upon and narrow down the exact essence of my research; what I am doing and why it is important. Participating in the 3MT® gave my research clarity and gave me confidence in talking about and promoting my research.”

The 3MT® competition was first held in 2008 at The University of Queensland in Queensland, Australia. It has since spread to 12 countries including Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Laurier’s 3MT® is being organized by Laurier’s Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Writing Centre (with support provided by the Graduate Students' Association through the Graduate Enhancement Fund).

Registration is open until Feb. 3. For more information, including how to register, eligibility, competition rules and workshop dates, please click here. An Introductory Workshop will be held Jan. 10 from 2-3 p.m. in DAWB 3-105.